Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-29
Written for the Springfield Republic.
A GLIMPSE Of UTAH.
Some Present Social and Political Phases
of Mormonism.
BY CHARLrs S. KAY

BY CHARLEs S. KAY.
Visiting Utah in the winter season, when
a mantle of snow covers the entire land.
scape, and imparts an aspect of more oil
less monotonous uniformity. the thoughts
of the visitant are naturally drawn TO the
social, political and religious features OF
the territory, rather than to its scenic beau
ties, which present varied and interesting
object of study in the summer time.
II is difficult for those situated at a re-
mote distance from Salt Lake City, the cen
ter and Mecca of MOrmonism, TO realize
that the conflict between the Mormon and
Gentle population of Utah is still main
tanned as bitterly as ever. 1t is true the
deadly Danites no longer roam the territory
in search of recreant saints or aggressive
Gentiles, and the rapidly increasing Gentle
society no longer breads the fats of Nor
mon leaders. But there is still an intense
bitterness of spirit existing between the
two elements, made still more rancorous
upon the part of the latter day saints by
reason of the present vigorous enforcement
of the Edmunds law in the territory. This
law has driven many of the Mormon leaders
into mountain seclusion, or 10 foreign
lands.
The best indicators anyone away from
Utah can have as to the existing spirit in
the territory, are the Salt Lake City news
papers. The Tribune. which has been for
so many years the ally and mouthpiece of
the Gentle population, still vigorously con-
tests the ground occupied by Mormonsm in
its religious, political or commercial atti-
tudes. On the other hand, the MOrmOniZed
Herald and that ancient palladium of pO-
lygamy, the Deseret NelCs, continue 10
stand as barriers against the on-march Of
intelligence and anti-Mormon sentiment
which follows in the wake of railroads and
Gentle immigration.
In the wlnIer-lilne Salt Lake City dis
cards her summer garb of foliage, and deep
all envelOping street-dust, for snow. mud
and dreariness. The mountains back of
the city are whitened by the heavy snow
storms, and there is little to invite the sight
seer 10 move about, except the distinctively
Mormon edifces. The great Temple, now
thirty-three years in process of building, is
still far from finished. There seems to be
no haste towards its completion; but it
stands as marvel of architectural SYM
metry and Solidity, and strikes one with
awe as he comes from the wastes of noun
tain and desert to gaze upon its huge di
mensiOns and unique design.
There are many who fail to be able to
see, even in the massive and unquestiOnably
elegant proportions of the temple. the evil
dence of the expenditure upon it of the
more than three million dollars, said tn have
been thus far paid out. 1t is, in truth, the
most stupendOus ''stOOl-pigeOn" of the age;
one which enables the MomOn leaders to ap-
peal with force to the deluded masses. from
whom come the fittings and contributions
for the building of the temple. 1t is more
effective TO appeal for money for the prose
cutiOn Of the work on the house Of the
Lord, to which 1t is claimed the
Savior will come, in person, when it
is completed. than to ask for
funds to keep President John Taylor in lux
ury in Europe. or to maintain other hiding
pOlygamists in soft places. away from the
grasp of alert United States marshals. The
unfinished temple is too good bait for the
faithful TO nibble at, to be pushed to speedy
It would ID less to deny that some
what of change has come over the out
ward bearing of the Mormons in Utah.
Recent arrests. convictions and impriSOn-
ments. while they have been met with an
air of martyrdom by many, have nevertht-
less begOtten more docile and conciliatOry
tone upon the part of the Saints when
they come in contact with Gentle visitors.
L UnrecOnstructed at heart and unchanged
in practice. they now aver that they bear
no enmity to those of the outside world,
whom, they say, they hope to see eventually
in the true fOld-in the next world, if not
In this.
One of the best places to obtain good
idea of the class Of intelligence upon which
the gigantic imposition of MOrmOnism
builds its hopes. and from which il draws
its large revenues, is in the great tabernacle,
at the weekly public service on Sunday
afternoon. Although, it is said. The more
intelligent Latter-Day Saints rarely attend
this service. it is usually characterized by a
large outpOuring of the masses of the peo-
pie.
No one can mistake the natiOnalities COM
posing the bulk Of the congregation. They
are mainly clear-skinned, haxen-haired
brawny-framed Cornish
miners, low grade English and Welsh-than
whom scarcely more ignorant and super
StltiOus people exist-and swarthy low
country Dutch. These adherents are being
continually by the missionaries"
who are labOring energetically among the
lower classes of the old world countries.
1t Is certainly credit TO our own
that so very few native Americans
ale susceptible to the allurements of this
Institution. The foreign ele-
ments just named, ignorant, superstitiOus
and pOverty-stricken at home, are enticed
Dv glowing accounts of the paradisiacal
region to which they are invited. and once
there, under the double bond of religious
fear and irretraceable distance, they fall
supinely into the berth already prepared
for them.
There is much in the tabernacle service TO
appease the natural craving for religious ex-
preston, which exists in the minds of even
the most ignorant. An immense auditOri-
lm. in a spacious building, whose curious
exterior proportions are very de-
ceptiye; magnificent pipe organ
lne OF the largest and best in the
singing by large and we'll
trained choir; weekly observance of the
by means of bread and water |
served in glittering silver vessels, and of
which all, old and young. are allowed to |
partake, and sermon which might be |
more properly termeda desultory harrangue,
all conspire 10 form a pseudO-religiouS eX- |
ercise, calculated to inspire the Mormon |
masses with more less awe.
Irreyerent Gentiles attended these taber- |
lacle services with considerable unregener- |
ste interest, in the good old days |
when Brigham Young. and his
hardened conferes eXpounded the |
pure gospel Of Mormonism from |
Is pulpit in language unfit for print, and in |
, spirit peryaded by treason toward the |
government and blasphemy toward God. |
Even row the tabernacle discourses range |
N one effort, from theology to stOck-raising |
md from irrigation to baptism.
While at present suffering persecution for /
righteousness sake. as the arrested and !
Imprisoned polygamists say, they still Sc